Town offers garbage franchise to Roger Brady

Local leaders spent much of last week's Sparta Town Council meeting talking trash.

In fact, garbage collection procedures have recently become one of the most controversial subjects for the town government. Last month council voted to purchase 90-gallon trash cans and mandate their use beginning this July.

At the April 1 meeting, council members agreed to try to find accommodations for those who have problems with using the cans.

The date of the can plan's implementation - July 1 - also marks the beginning of the fiscal year and the beginning of the new three-year garbage contract. It was current contractor Chris Walker who asked council to adopt the cans and their use.

Last week's meeting also included the opening of the garbage franchise bids. Council voted first approval to Roger Brady as franchisee. Brady's bid was more than $40,000 per year less than either of the other two bidders, including Walker.

The discussion began with Town Manager Tom Douglas presenting a list of 34 citizens who he said had contacted the town office during the previous few days. "Most of these folks here are elderly and don't have much trash to begin with; 90 gallons is large for them. Some have heart conditions and don't feel they can roll a big trash can out to the curb."

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